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spoiled Meath and Leinster, being ineflfec- tually opposed by a hosting of the lords of the PaJe. In 1225 he made a like suc- cessful expedition against the O'Conors of Connaught. His death in 1230 is thus noticed : " Hugh O'Neill, Lord of Tyrone,

. . who had never rendered hostages, pledges, or tribute to English or Irish ; who had gained victories over the English, and cut them off with great and frequent slaughter ; the plunderer of the English and Irish ; a man who had attempted the subjugation of all Ireland — died a natural death, although it was never supposed that he would die in any other way than to fall by the hands of the English." '^ 335 339.

O'Neill, Niall More, Lord of Ty- rone, is mentioned in the Four Masters as leading expeditions against the Anglo- Irish districts in 1374, 1375, 1383, 1384, and 1392. In 1368 he was discomfited by Brian MacMahon in an attack on Oriel — a defeat avenged in 1370. In 1380, with many other chieftains, he paid homage to Edmund Mortimer, Lord-Lieutenant. Under 1387 it is mentioned that he built a house near Armagh (Eamhain Macha, now Navan fort), where he entertained the bards and learned men of Ireland. He died in 1397. A string of high-sounding titles (such as " Destroyer of the English," " Uniter of the Irish," " Exalter of the Church"), is appended to his name by the annalists. '^4

O'Neill, Henry Aimreidh, entitled " The Contentious," by antiphrasis, from his peaceable disposition, was son of Niall Mor, and founder of the Clann-Enri, who in the 14th century settled in and about the present town of Newtownstewart, in the County of Tyrone, where he is still remembered as Henry Ouree. O'Donovan says : " There are more traditions pre- served about this Henry Avry O'Neill than any of the later chieftains of that family, excepting, perhaps, Owen Koe and Sir Phelim." '34 233

O'Neill, Owen, Lord of Tyrone from 1432 to 145s, occupies a prominent place in the annals of the north of Ireland, during the first half of the 15th century. He is mentioned so early as 1398. He was en- gaged in constant expeditious, with vary- ing success, both against the Anglo-Irish, his neighbours, the O'Donnells and Mac- Quillans, and against rival branches of the O'Neill family. In 1425 he was taken pri- soner, and held captive in Dublin for some time. In 1430 and 1444 he appears to have levied contributions on the Pale ; but in 1442 he is mentioned as co-operating with the Anglo-Irish in an expedition against the O'Donnells. In an expedition against 406

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the Maguires of Fermanagh, in i43S, it is said that the inhabitants of the district, flying from his advance, carried their goods across the frozen surface of Lough Erne. Owen was deposed by his son Henry in 1455, and died the following year. '^4

O'Neill, Henry, Lord of Tyrone, son of preceding, flourished in the 15 th cen- tury. His wars and exploits are often referred to in the i^owr i/asfers. In 1431 he was taken prisoner by Naghtan O'Don- nell ; but he was soon liberated, and they became for a time fast friends. In 1442 his father and he joined the Anglo-Irish, and led an army against the same Nagh- tan, forcing him to surrender Caatlefin and the surrounding territory. For some cause, his father was banished in 1455, and he was inaugurated as The O'Neill at TuUaghoge, in presence of the Archbishop of Armagh, the Maguires, MacMahons, and his own kinsmen. Two years after- wards he led a successful expedition against the O'Donnells. In 1464 the King sent him a present of a chain of gold, and a piece of scarlet cloth. Henry O'Neill died in 1489. '^4

O'Neill, Con Bacagh (the Lame), Earl of Tyrone, was inaugurated as The O'Neill, upon the death of his brother in 1 5 19. He was soon afterwards received into royal favour, upon a resolve taken by Henry VIII. that Ireland should be go- verned by "sober waies, politique drifts, and amiable perswasions." In 1 523 he bore the sword of state before the Lord-Deputy. In 1534, however, he became involved in Silken Thomas's rebellion, and in 1538, buoyed up by hopes of foreign assistance, he joined Manus O'Donnell, and marched upon the Pale, and reviewed his forces at Tara. He next year turned homewards ; but was overtaken by Lord Grey, at Ballahoe, in Monaghan, and defeated in a bloody engagement. In January 1542, at Maynooth, he renounced the Pope's supremacy, and Henry VIII. desiring his presence in London, he set sail for England and presented himself at Court on the 24th September. He was created Earl of Tyrone and renounced the name of O'Neill, engaging that he and his heirs should adopt the English dress and language, that he would be obedient to the King's laws, assist the Deputy in his hostings, and not succour any of the King's enemies, traitors, or rebels. His illegitimate son Matthew was created Baron of Dungaimon (a title to be after- wards borne by the heirs apparent of Earls of Tyrone), and two of the Ma- guire family who accompanied him were knighted. "And for his reward we